Culture | Books, Music, Theatre, Film & The Arts

Bring the noise - guitar legend Thurston Moore talks to RTÉ Arena

Thurston Moore, the guitarist and founding member of Sonic Youth is known for his role in shaping the sound of alternative rock from the 1980s onward, blending experimental noise, punk energy, and art-rock sensibilities.

Music • 03 Apr

Ed Bennett: 'I would never tell an audience what to do or think.'

All Earth Once Drowned - Ed Bennett's musical call to action

Composer Ed Bennett returns to New Music Dublin this year with the world premiere of All Earth Once Drowned, a powerful new work created in collaboration with poet Cherry Smyth and performed by a fresh incarnation of his renowned Decibel Ensemble.

Music • 31 Mar

Composer and musician Caimin Gilmore brings BlackGate to NMD 2025 (Pic: David Six)

Enter BlackGate: Caimin Gilmore on his New Music Dublin premiere

A programme of 21st century and contemporary solo works at this year's New Music Dublin festival culminates in Caimin Gilmore's BlackGate

New Music Dublin • 02 Apr

What does the sea sound like? Jonathan Nangle's ocean of music

The sea has long been a source of fascination for poets, artists, and composers alike—a vast and ever-changing presence that evokes both tranquility and power.

Music • 31 Mar

Gamelan on - bringing the sound of Indonesia to New Music Dublin

For many, the shimmering, hypnotic tones of the gamelan are intimately tied to the vibrant culture of Indonesia.

New Music Dublin • 27 Mar

The Universal: Carl Corcoran & Ciarán Kelly's New Music premiere

We sat down with composer Carl Corcoran and conductor Ciaran Kelly to discuss their new collaboration A Child of the Universe

New Music Dublin • 25 Mar

Jean Cocteau's The Blood of a Poet (Le Sang d'un Poète) is rescored at New Music Dublin

5 must-see events at New Music Dublin 2025

The 2025 edition of the New Music Dublin Festival returns to the capital for four days this April - and we're recommending a quintet of choice events at Ireland's foremost contemporary music festival.

New Music Dublin • 27 Mar

Barry Ward and Anna Bederke star in That They May Face The Rising Sun

Culture 5 - your cultural highlights for the next seven days

Hear the Culture 5 every Friday on Aedín in the Afternoon on RTÉ lyric fm, from 1pm

Culture 5 • 26 Apr 24

Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg return to New Music Dublin

Young composer Gracie Gilmartin on her New Music Dublin premiere

National Concert Hall choirs Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg make a welcome return to this year's New Music Dublin festival, for a performance showcasing the very best of Ireland's young vocal talent.

Music • 19 Apr 24

Canadian composer Bekah Simms (Pic: Bo Huang)

Altered state: composer Bekah Simms crashes into New Music Dublin

This year's New Music Dublin programme features the world premiere of Cryptid by Bekah Simms, written during her time as Composer in Residence with Crash Ensemble.

Music • 18 Apr 24

Composer Gabriel-Jackson (Pic: Reinis Hofmanis)

Party on - composer Gabriel Jackson comes to New Music Dublin

Composer Gabriel Jackson explores the creative process, building blocks and inspiration for his new choral work, based on the poetry of Ian Hamilton Finlay.

New Music Dublin • 22 Apr 24

Flowers in the wild at the Mesolithic Shoreline
in Lough Boora, Co. Offaly (Pic: Laura Sheeran)

New Music Dublin: Composer Ann Cleare's Mesolithic masterwork

For this year's New Music Dublin Festival at the National Concert Hall, Crash Ensemble perform the world premiere of composer Ann Cleare's TERRARIUM.

Music • 16 Apr 24

Anaphora: composer Raymond Deane on his New Music Dublin premiere

Acclaimed composer Raymond Deane spoke to New Music Dublin Festival Director John Harris about the upcoming world premiere of his latest work, Anaphora.

Music • 24 Apr 24

'Composer-performer-provocatrice' Laura Bowler is coming to this year's New Music Dublin

5 must-see events at New Music Dublin 2024

New Music Dublin is Ireland's foremost contemporary music festival.

Music • 03 Apr 24

A Winged Victory for the Sullen headline this year's New Music Dublin Festival

New Music Dublin Festival announces 2024 programme

Acclaimed US ambient music duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen will headline the 2024 New Music Dublin Festival, which returns to the capital for four days this April.

Music • 05 Feb

Listen: amplify LIVE at New Music Dublin 2023

amplify is the Contemporary Music Centre's (CMC) podcast on new music and composers from Ireland

New Music Dublin • 18 May 23

Pianist Eliza McCarthy will perform Limina at New Music Dublin (Pic: Pat Davey)

Crash Ensemble's concerto for the head, chest and nervous system

Neva Elliott speaks to pianist Eliza McCarthy and composer Donnacha Dennehy about Limina, the visceral new concerto for piano written by Dennehy for McCarthy.

Music • 17 Apr 23

Composer Andrew Hamilton (Pic: Peter-Campbell)

Can Music Be Kind? Andrew Hamilton crashes New Music Dublin

Crash Ensemble play the premiere of Composer-in-Residence Andrew Hamilton's new work Friendly Piece at this year's New Music Dublin festival.

New Music Dublin • 17 Apr 23

Soprano Elizabeth Hilliard (Pic: Mark Stedman)

New Music Dublin: Elizabeth Hilliard celebrates great Irishwomen

Irish soprano Elizabeth Hilliard will be performing Great Women at Richmond Barracks, as part of the New Music Dublin Festival.

New Music Dublin • 06 Apr 23

Crash Ensemble present Crash Works (Pic: Ros Kavanagh)

Work it! Crash Ensemble explore new ways of creating music

Crash Ensemble are back at this year's New Music Dublin Festival performing new commissions from five creators from their Crash Works programme

Music • 04 Apr 23

New Music Dublin welcomes you to the Open Form Pavilion of Air

Australian artist Robert Curgenven's Baile Átha Cliath Pailliún Aeir i bhFoirm Oscailte/Open Form Pavilion of Air comes to Merrion Square as part of New Music Dublin's 2023 festival.

New Music Dublin • 29 Mar 23

Crash Ensemble lead the charge at New Music Dublin 2023

New Music Dublin returns with fresh sounds for for curious minds

The programme for New Music Dublin 2023 offers a whopping 20 World Premieres and 12 Irish Premieres, alongside new music from Irish and international composers and performers.

Music • 14 Mar 23

New Music Dublin: Watch In Memoriam/In Celebration live

Music • 10 May 22

Pianist Isabelle O Connell (Pic: Stefan Seifer)

New Music Dublin - five must-see events

New Music Dublin • 01 May 22

Accordionist Andreas Borregaard will perform on the opening night of New Music Dublin

New Music Dublin announces 2022 programme

Music • 22 Mar 22